Digital Television (DTV) Transition Information

The federal government mandated that all major television stations
cease broadcasting their programming in analog format on June 12, 2009
and begin broadcasting exclusively in digital format. If a household
uses an over-the-air antenna to receive television signals, either a
digital-to-analog converter, a digital television, or cable or
satellite service must now be used to continue to receive television
signals. One or two $40 federal coupons redeemable towards the
purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box(es) are available to most
households, if the requests are made by July 31, 2009.

DTV questions? Call the federal government’s DTV Help Line at
1-888-225-5322. If your questions are not answered, then call
Fairfax County’s Department of Cable and Consumer Services at
703-324-5900.

Are Some of Your Digital TV Stations
"Missing"?
Are You Unable to Receive Channels 7 and 9?

The FCC has reported that some viewers in the metropolitan
area encompassing Fairfax County have been unable to receive
signals on channels 7 and 9. Because these two channels
originally were broadcasting their digital signals in the UHF
spectrum, the converter box or the digital television
"memorized" the frequency locations for those two
channels. When channel 7 and channel 9 changed their digital
signals to the VHF spectrum on June 12, some televisions and
some makes of converter boxes could no longer "find"
channels 7 and 9. See our Channel-Selection Trouble-Shooting Guide
for information on how to receive channels 7 and 9 if they are
"missing" on your television.

List of Broadcast Television Stations Available in Fairfax
County

Televisions in the Fairfax County area with an over-the-air
“rabbit ears” or roof-top antenna may receive the following
stations:

Actual reception of the above channels depends on the distance
of the viewer’s residence from the broadcast stations’
transmission towers, where the antenna is located within the
residence, whether the antenna is properly “aimed,” antenna
height, proximity of an indoor antenna to a window, and the
quality of the antenna. Other factors that can impact
reception include interference due to nearby buildings and
trees, hilly terrain and low elevation, materials used to
construct the residence, inclement weather conditions, and
airplane over-flights.

Adjusting the placement of an existing antenna can help bring
in more stations. Reception can often be markedly
improved by using either a rooftop / attic antenna or an indoor
“amplified” VHF/UHF antenna. After making any antenna
adjustments, viewers should be sure to “re-scan” all channels,
as follows: (1) Remove the old antenna; (2)
perform a re-scan, which erases the memory; (3) turn off TV and
converter box, if any, for least 1-2 minutes, then turn
back on; (4) connect the new antenna; (5)
if there are one or more “gain” controls on the amplified
antenna, be sure to turn the gain up; and (6) perform another
re-scan to pick up signals from as many television
channels as possible.

Quick Consumer Guide to the Digital Television
Transition

Households that receive television signals over-the-air -- using a
rabbit-ears or rooftop antenna -- must make adjustments now that all TV
broadcasts are digital ("DTV"). Learn more about digital
television, the federal coupon program, how to set up converter boxes,
recycling older televisions, and many other topics: